BA/MA Journalism Student Output

Survey finds Scottish GPs are under pressure

A survey conducted by the British Medical Association (BMA) has found that 91% of GPs in Scotland believe their increasing workload has affected the level of patient care they can achieve.

The BMA surveyed 900 GPs from all over Scotland and found that more than nine in 10 of those asked thought the level of care had been negatively impacted.

Around 53% of those GPs said they wanted longer appointments for patients with long – term conditions, with four in 10 doctors wanting longer appointments for every patient.

The survey found that 44% of GPs said funding was the highest priority and a third of the 900 saying that increasing the amount of doctors should be at the top of the agenda.

Dr Alan McDevitt, BMA’s Scottish GP committee chairman, said: “This survey reflects the immense pressure that GPs working across Scotland are currently feeling. The rising workload is simply unsustainable and something has to change to make general practice in Scotland fit for the future. It is essential that the additional £500 million per year promised by the Scottish Government is spent directly on supporting general practice. “

The Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Donald Cameron added: “This is the latest in a long line of warnings the SNP has received on Scotland’s GP crisis. Posts are being left unfilled, patients can’t get quick appointments and projections for future service levels are becoming increasingly dire. The SNP has been in sole charge of health for a decade and it can’t get away from the fact it is responsible for this situation.That’s why we believe at least 10% of health funding should go to general practice by 2020 to ensure GPs are able to cope with present and future demands.”